Temptation

Chapter 75

"Fine, I'll do it."

Those words were braver as an element of a speech than achieving the aim. Far more, I felt pulverizing my being. Just like a roving sheep in a darned forest cursed of starving wolves, I was petrified. Now, to think of it, I understood why I hated this place. It was the third time I rolled dice with the grim reaper. Twice I lost lives and once I won mine, thanks to Julian. If he wasn't in my life, how many days my body would have been inside one of those storages? That simple thought sent a glacial wave through my body. I sheltered myself under Julian's arm. Gripping his shirt, the fabric stretched.

He gently put his hands on mine, and my fingers instantly relaxed their grips.

"You don't have to do it." He whispered to me in a suave voice.

"Don't worry, I can."

Yet simple words with heavier aims. After all, I was only going to look at Mark's face for one last time.

I was standing there with my fists clenched, my legs firmly closed to the bone inside of my ankles, hurting each other. I didn't know how they call this bone. I wasn't even sure there was a name for it. Shit, I never took biology seriously. I was alone in this room, separated from the larger room by a glass window. I was looking at a silhouette on a table covered with a white sheet. That was the only thing in the other room.

Just a lifeless body.

Soon, the coroner entered the room. I couldn't see his eyes because of the lightning and his Google, but he was staring at me. He was waiting for me to give him the green light, but my body dared me to move. So I counted to five. I took a deep breath and nodded. He approached the body and discovered the face only.

Oh, Mark... look what you had done to yourself. Just look at you. "Be mad at yourself for being so naïve and vulnerable. Maybe you'll realize how much you fucked up in prison. You followed the devil; it's time to dance hell's favorite dance." Those were the last words I ever spoke to you. Now, look at you. Did you ever realize how much you fucked up? Was your last moment a reflection of how much of a waste of your life was, or did you die quickly, painlessly? I was just wondering.

Staring at your pale face, you seemed peaceful, with no more breath. Your dry and purple lips even formed a little smile beyond death. Your last thought was pleasing. That sight of you drained any anger and disgust I had towards you. It was pity and sadness. Although, all you did to me, you were still a second father figure to me. You were the one I looked up to after dad passed away. You betrayed me. But I couldn't hate you. I felt bad for you, and I couldn't blame you. You fell in love with a woman who used your weakness to do things that were beyond unreasonable. And you did it because all you wanted was to be loved and find your happiness. You followed your heart. I understood you, and frankly, we were a little alike. I was in love too and looking for my happiness. But would I be unreasonable? No... I wasn't crazy like you. Why couldn't you let go? Why did you stay loyal until your death? What was your reason?

No wife, no girlfriend, no kid, no family, nothing. With all that intellectual crap and money, you should have listened to your head instead. You've wasted your brief life for nothing! You did all that for nothing! You wasted all for a fucking woman that never loved you! Your happiness was never here! It was sad to see you go without a change. Alas...

Right there, I forgave you, Mark. Your life was miserable enough to pay for all the wickedness you did to my family. I forgave you, but I didn't forget. I knew you were listening. You might look peaceful, but your spirit wasn't. I hoped you were having a great time in hell. I promised you I would send your bitch soon to join you. Goodbye Mark.

"Yes. That's him. That's Mark Pellerino."

_______

They brought me to the Elvero's tower under Julian's request, while they announced to the media, Mark Pellerino was deceased. Leonel was on a trip to Spain, and the rest of the Elveros were at the palace. Automatically, everyone turned into Julian's bitch. They put me in a spacious gold and black room with a spinning chandelier and black couch. A TV that took the entire wall. In front of me was a table with magazines. Julian's magazine. I was already going through two of them. He was an amazing model. I liked how I vaguely described him as empathic and joyful. Who? My Julian? Joyful? Yeah, right? He was only joyful when he was with his close circle or after I sucked his dick. 98% of the time, he looked like he was about to murder the world. I promised you if you searched him on Google, you wouldn't find one picture of him smiling.

Those magazines were a great distraction from the chaos about to be unleashed on my unstable world. I supposed whatever I did was inevitable.

I sat in this room for thirty minutes. It was already night, and no one bothered to come in. Where were Julian, security, the detectives? Shouldn't Mark's death be public already?

The door opened and Julian, the detectives, and security approached. Finally, I started going crazy for a moment.

"I am sorry we kept you waiting, but things took a turn." Mr. Lois apologized.

"What is going on?" I stood up quickly. "Why are they not talking about Mark's death on TV?" I pointed to the large screen.

"That is being discussed at the moment. We cannot announce his passing tonight. There is a limit to what we can say to the media when someone prominent as Mark Pellerino passed away. The public will start asking questions, and it could throw off the investigation. We cannot share the cause of death yet. They are not ready for the truth. The news will be public tomorrow at 8 AM." He explained.

He was right. We couldn't precipitate the matter. If we told them he was assassinated, they would ask by who. That would bring the entire story out. We cannot afford that. The whole truth had to e confirmed. Once Catalina was being bars, then we would tell the world to avoid confusion.

"I understand."

"I would like to tell you why we left. We received a strange call earlier. Someone called and told us they heard a young man bragged about ending Mark Pellerino's life."

"What? How's that possible? It is not even public yet?" I furrowed my brows. I glanced at Julian eating cookies, with no care in the world.

"That's what we thought, too." Spoke to Mr. Reiner. "We arrested the man and brought him in immediately for questioning."

"And? Is he talking?"

"Not yet, no."

"Ah fuck!" I groaned.

"I am telling you, just give me two minutes with the guy, and I will get you all the info you want." Julian threw another cookie in his mouth.

"Not a chance, Elvero." Mr. Lois glared at him. "Last time we let you alone with a suspect, he was long dead and I recognizable."

Julian shrugged. "I am just good at what I do." And smile grandly like a child. Mr. Reiner rolled his eyes.

Were they talking about Shawn? Oh my God, he was unrecognizable? I wondered what happened between the two during the short time they were together? What really happened in that room?

"For the moment, I want you to stand your guard and protect Ms. Royale. There's no doubt it is Catalina Royale's doing. If she knows Ms. Royale is in New York, she could try a second attempt to murder her."

"Give me a gun. I am not using my gun." Julian threw the empty cookie package, after crumbling under his fingers, inside of the trash can. Mr. Lois gave the security an affirmative look. This one took out another gun from his behind and handed it to Julian. He examined it.

"Nice." He smiled and put it in his pants' waistband.

"An escort is waiting for you to get to the apartment." Mr. Reiner.

"Apartment?" I asked, confusingly. "We are not going back to Toronto?"

"No. You should be under our surveillance. Things have exaggerated, and it is time to put an end to this."

"Ahhh..." Julian leaned his head backward, his Adam's apple popping out. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Shit, I am not missing my birthday, y'all better hurry and arrest the bitch. No offense to you mamí, but your mom is really a rat passing whore."

"No offense taken," I mumbled.

"And we will! Get home and get some rest. We have a lot of work starting tomorrow. We have to put an end to this once and for all."

"Oh please! Get the bitch in a cage ASAP, so I can live my fucking life!" I yelled.

That was right. It was finally to put down that animal. That was the end. And she would never get out of this one, not even alive.

~~~~~~~

Sorry for the late chapter y'all! I started watching My hero Academia and now I can't stop.